Saving children, one box at a time

Edgewater residents reach out to world through Feed My Starving Children

EDGEWATER — On the third Wednesday of every month, a team of about 20 Edgewater volunteers gather at Creekside Lodge, carpool to a warehouse in Aurora, and fill

shipping boxes with life-sustaining food products destined for some of the world’s neediest recipients.

The widespread relief effort serves nearly 70 countries around the world — places experiencing both natural disasters and economic despair.

It’s all part of Feed My Starving Children — a faith-based, non-profit relief organization that Edgewater’s Marina Wray and George Mohn originally discovered through their own local churches. They brought news of it to Edgewater’s Outreach Committee, and since July, the effort has attracted enough response from the community that a sign-up and waiting list is now used.

“We were blown away by the response,” Wray said, adding that not only Edgewater residents, but their family members are welcome to participate. Both Wray’s and Mohn’s grandchildren have joined in the effort, learning valuable lessons about children in need around the world and experiencing the joy of doing something to help. Girl Scouts and Brownies, church groups, and employees of local businesses are also typical participants.

When the Edgewater volunteers arrive at the packing site, they first view a video about the children scheduled to receive the materials they’ll assemble. Basically, it’s a special formula of life-sustaining vegetables, rice and soy products coupled with vitamins and minerals that can be mixed with water after arrival. In addition, FMSC has recently created a “baby pack” to aid 6-18-month-old children in danger of starvation.

“It’s amazing how quickly this product works,” Mohn said. He explained that FMSC determined the basics required to sustain life — highly digestible food products that can be tolerated by the bodies of children already ravaged by malnutrition. Amazingly, each life-giving meal provided costs only 22 cents.

Especially rewarding are follow-up photos of needy children that volunteer packers are shown weeks after the food they prepared for shipment has made a difference.

“It’s incredible how quickly they respond,” Mohn said.

On average, the Edgewater volunteers pack about one box per person, per-session, or 216 meals, each in about a 2-1/2-hour time period. Packers typically stand while working but for volunteers unable to stand there are other tasks that can be done while seated. Prior to beginning a packing session, the tables are sterilized and packers are given hairnets and gloves to wear.

“We look especially great in the hairnets,” Mohn quipped.

At the end of a session, the staff reports to the volunteer group the exact amount of what they’ve packed.

“It makes you feel that you’ve accomplished something,” Wray said.

“Come prepared to have fun,” she added. “We’ve gotten to know a lot of people this way.”

The fun was palpable during the group’s Nov. 20 visit, as the Edgewater residents – and just about all of the volunteers – danced to the loud, upbeat music – infusing rhythm and cheer into their work. They even came up with chants for their stations’ respective countries, like Djibouti, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique.

“I enjoy working with others, doing my small part to help,” Wray said. “It’s much more meaningful than just donating money to a cause.”

After their work session, the Edgewater group carpools back home, usually stopping at Portillo’s restaurant to enjoy a little social time together.

FMSC was founded by Minnesota businessman Richard Proudfit in 1987 to feed the world’s poor. The organization developed its formula in 1993 with the aid of food scientists from Pillsbury and General Mills. Today, the packs are referred to as “Manna Packs.”

In 2008, FMSC expanded into its Aurora location and now has Illinois locations in Schaumburg and Libertyville. Last year, FMSC produced 153,000,000 meals and counted 662,062 volunteers. The organization reached a 600 million meals milestone in 2012.

Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines have received 3.3 million meals from FMSC. The FMSC website currently designates 100 percent of its donations to Philippines relief efforts.

Mohn said FMSC combines efforts with missionary partnerships at orphanages, schools, clinics, refugee camps, and malnourishment centers. This way, FMSC’s distribution programs gain the cooperation of locals in the areas where aid is sent.

Anyone interested in participating can sign up at the lodge, as there is a maximum of about 25 people who can attend asession. Cash donations are also welcome.

Feed My Starving Children
To help: Sign up through Edgewater Outreach at
Creekside Lodge
To learn more: Visit fmsc.org

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